NGT order on diesel vehicles over 15 years: Ageing vehicles could get the boot in ‘a week’s time’

Diesel vehicles older than 15 years will face the action first, as per the tribunal’s order on July 20.

Enterprises. In an affidavit filed before the tribunal, the Union ministry said the order was in “contravention” of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and there was no legal provision to scrap 15-year-old diesel vehicles.

More than 1.5 lakh diesel vehicles older than 15 years plying in Delhi-NCR could be deregistered “in a week’s time”, said a senior government official after a meeting held Wednesday to discuss the ways to implement the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT’s) order aimed at curbing pollution.

“In a week’s time, the transport department will strike off commercial and private diesel vehicles registered with them in and before the year 2000. They will meet soon to discuss how to go about it because there is no provision for deregistering vehicles in the rulebook,” the official added.

According to another official present at the meeting called by the Chief Secretary K K Sharma, diesel vehicles older than 15 years found plying as well as those parked in public places will be impounded and dumped in pits for which 21 spots have been identified across the capital.

Representatives of Delhi Traffic Police, the transport department, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), municipal corporations and other agencies attended the meeting convened to draw the roadmap for implementation of the NGT order, according to which 2.82 lakh diesel vehicles older than 10 years would be deregistered. Diesel vehicles older than 15 years will face the action first, as per the tribunal’s order on July 20.

Amid the discussion to implement the NGT order, concerns have been expressed by Delhi government, Uttar Pradesh government as well as the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. In an affidavit filed before the tribunal, the Union ministry said the order was in “contravention” of the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and there was no legal provision to scrap 15-year-old diesel vehicles.

Sandeep Goel, Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said, “We will begin seizing vehicles after the transport department deregisters them. We will work with the transport department on this while enforcing the NGT order.”